Obama’s Star Push Wins Hearts, But Not Necessarily Minds

The light sleet falling in eastern Iowa Saturday night wasn’t enough to deter nearly 10,000 people from driving to the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids to hear what Oprah Winfrey had to say on behalf of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama. Driving in inclement weather, waiting nearly an hour in a packed arena and then waiting, in some cases, well over an hour to exit a jammed parking garage, shouldn’t be confused with steadfast support.

“I came to see both Obama and Oprah,” said Doris Nuss of Manchester, who indicated that she will be caucusing for the first time in several years and is trying to decide between New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Obama. “As this goes along, I’m getting closer to caucusing for him than I am for her. I don’t think Oprah made a big difference as far as changing anyone’s mind, but she was really good and it was worth it to come out on a cold night.”

Cedar Rapids resident Matt Spellman, who is juggling between Obama and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, said he doesn’t anticipate making up his mind until the last minute.

“My girlfriend and I came to see both,” he said while the couple inched their way out of the arena. “It was very exciting tonight. It stuck out to me when Oprah began to talk about the war and that just pressed home even more how much we need to get out. We’ve got to get our country back to the place it used to be in terms of international respect.”

When everything was said and done, however, Spellman said he didn’t hear anything new from the candidate on his wedge issue of education.

“I think I’ll be making up my mind on caucus night,” he said and added it may just come down to a coin toss.

Not everyone in the audience was undecided. At least two women traveled across three states to attend the event.

“We came all the way from Mississippi,” said Suzanne Robinson. “We flew in this morning to see Obama. I like Oprah, but I came to see Obama. [The event] was wonderful. It was great. I was already sold on Obama, I just wanted a chance to see him live and at an event. I was not disappointed.”

Robinson said that having Winfrey at the event was “just icing on the cake.”

“He’ll have to come to Mississippi next time,” said Dorothy Howell, who traveled with Robinson. “I thought the event was wonderful — very awe-inspiring.”

While in Iowa the two women were staying with family in Coralville — family that also supports Obama.

“I’m not going to be caucusing — I’m undecided as a voter,” said Coralville family member Kelli Malone. “I just think he is very impressive. He’s right on the top of my list. The first time I saw him, he was being interviewed about the book he wrote. I was very interested in the book he wrote, although I have not yet read it. Still that first time I saw him I thought ‘wow,’ he’s just very impressive. I also very much like his wife and I just think they make a nice package.”

While Malone supports Obama and his candidacy she said she didn’t plan to caucus because she never has, is concerned about finding time and is unsure of the process.

“I brought my mom and wife here tonight from Black Hawk County so they could see Oprah,” said Ray Goodman as he stood in the skywalk, waiting for traffic to clear the parking garage so he could drive home. “They already support Obama and I know they will be caucusing for him. I was just the driver and, since I’m trying to decide between [Connecticut Sen. Chris] Dodd and [Delaware Sen. Joe] Biden, I really didn’t think I’d get much out of tonight. But, I was wrong. Now I think Obama would make an excellent vice president for either of the other two.

“Of course, that’s only if Dodd and Biden can’t work something out between themselves,” he added with a laugh and a wave as he headed to his vehicle.